Scott Swanson
After winning two straight state swimming championships with a core of top-flight swimmers who graduated last year, Sweet Home’s boys find themselves in a rebuilding mode as they prepare for the new season.
The girls, though, may be in for a better finish than last year’s team, with a sizeable number of returnees, including three with state experience, from last year.
The boys graduated five seniors last year who medaled at state: Jayce Calhoon, the school record-holder in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke, now at the University of Wyoming; Kieran Schaefer, school record-holder in the 100 and 200 freestyle, now at the University of Seattle; Michael Simmonds, now at Pacific University; Dakotah Keys, a track and field athlete now at the University of Oregon; and Byron Sanders.
“That was a load,” said Coach Doug Peargin, who is entering his 36th year coaching the Huskies. “We’ll be as inexperienced as a team as we’ve been in the last 20 years.”
The Huskies have only two returning state placewinners, juniors Zac Pearce and Gabriel (Gravy) Gunselman, though their contributions to the team will likely not be insignificant this year. Pearce swam half a second slower as a sophomore than Calhoon’s record in the 500 free and Gunselman is among the school’s top 10 swimmers in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
The good news for the boys is that most of the team is back who did not graduate and a lot of those swimmers scored points in helping the Huskies to a district title.
“We do have depth,” Peargin said. “It just hasn’t been tried under fire.
“Always before, the kids would go into meets and say ‘Jayce is here’ or ‘Schaf’s here.’ They’re on their own now.”
He said that he expects Pearce and Gunselman to be the core of this year’s team.
“Those two guys were medalists at the state championships and hopefully we’ll come up with a few more who will step up to the plate and we can get some relays tough enough to go to state and place there.”
Peargin said he’s reluctant to predict anything but he believes the boys can place among the top 10 in state, if Gunselman and Pearce contribute like he thinks they can.
He said he expects seniors such as Alex Stupin, Derek Jacques, and Brandon Courteau to step up as well.
“Those guys are all in line to possibly make the A relay,” he said. “It depends on who wants to put the pedal to the metal.”
He said freshman Sten Weld also has particularly shown potential among the newcomers to the team.
The rest of the team, as of last Friday, are seniors Wes Clarkson, Josh Liskey and Donnie O’Brien; juniors Jake Johnson, Cory Martin, Zach Pratt, Bryce Roberts and Don Rockstead; sophomores Elric Benson, Zane Jackson and Victor Stupin; and freshman Saul Jones.
The Girls
On the girls’ side, the Huskies lost only one swimmer who went to the state meet, Alyssa Holder, who graduated from a team that placed third at districts and 13th at state.
In other words, nearly the entire team is back and Peargin says he expects a stronger performance this year.
“Overall, everybody’s returning, plus we have a couple of new people,” he said.
Key returnees among the girls are senior Sami Webb and sophomore Naomi Gunselman, who “are both going to be strong,” Peargin said. Gunselman posted the third-fastest times in school history in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke as a freshman, trailing only legendary Huskies Leah Land and Rachel Ahola in those events. Webb is among the top 10 swimmers in the 200 freestyle, the 200 IM, the 100 free and the 500 free.
Niccole Simmonds, also a senior, has a rotator cuff injury that will keep her out for at least part of the season, but could return in time to contribute by the district meet, he said. All three placed at state last year.
Peargin said senior Cheryl Wilson, juniors Katie Turner and Kimber Swanson, and sophomore Paige Sanders “are all going to have to step up. They’ll be fighting to take that spot that Holder was in on the A Relay,” he said.
He said the most improved swimmer from last year’s team is sophomore Emily Thompson, who will also contribute.
The girls, like the boys, have numbers. Also on the team are seniors Megan Sanderson and Rozaliya Minigulova; junior Brandi Trewin; sophomores Michelle Carper, Emily Claborn, Cassie Johnson, Laura Mauer and Shelby Wymetalek; and freshman Tanisa Bell.
The District
The addition of Blanchet Catholic to District 3 means that five girls teams will be competing for the three top spots at the district meet: Sisters, Stayton, Philomath, Sweet Home and Blanchet. The district consists of those teams plus Cascade, Central, Creswell, Jefferson, Junction City and Stayton.
“All five are fairly equal,” he said.
Peargin said he expects tough competition from Philomath, Junction City and Central on the boys side. In fact, he said, getting out of district may be the biggest challenge.
“Philomath is coming back after placing fifth at state last year and they didn’t graduate one kid, Junction City was fourth at state and lost one swimmer and Central was eighth and hasn’t lost one swimmer,” he said. “Those teams will be tough. All of them, plus us, will be in the top 10 at state – if we can get there and depending on what we do once we get there.
“The toughest thing is getting to state.”
The Huskies are swimming daily doubles and focusing heavily on technique.
“The kids are working hard, working on a lot of technique,” he said. “Their turns are better, their strokes are better. You get correct form, correct technique, and speed will come.”
The Huskies will find out soon where they stand. They host Blanchett and Cascade Friday, Dec. 3 – without Naomi Gunselman who will miss the meet because of another commitment.